FEATURE FILMS

U.S. Narrative Features Competition

BARNEY BURMAN'S WILD BOAR

Director: Barney Burman
Country: United States, Running Time: 98 min
A world where man is suddenly no longer at the top of the food chain. A small group of Geocachers -- modern day weekend treasure hunters -- go searching in the desert for a bounty left by an eccentric billionaire. Instead they end up being hunted by a mutant boar with an axe to grind. It's a race for survival and those who don't make it are sure to be served up for dinner.

HARD PLASTIC

Director: Lucas Astrom
Country: United States, Running Time: 67 min
An aspiring disc golfer (Meg Dick) gets kicked out of the nest by her loving father (Andy Dick) who is in the middle of dealing with his own mid-life crisis. Aided by her trusted friend; scratcher addict and caddy (Natisha Anderson), she finds a sponsor, throws an ace at the disc golf championship and proves to her father that disc golf is a real sport.

THE IN-BETWEEN

Director: Mindy Bledsoe
Country: United States, Running Time: 77 min
Two women set out on a road trip with different missions. Mads (Jennifer Stone "Wizards of Waverly Place") needs to renew her driver's license in South Dakota, while Junior needs to visit Portland, OR on a quest for her dead sister. Both women have medical issues that cause friction along the way, but they never let those problems define their identities. Mads is also keeping a secret from Junior, that could explode at any moment and ruin their journey.

TAKING TIGER MOUNTAIN REVISITED

Directors: Tom Huckabee, Kent Smith
Country: United Kingdom, Running Time: 76 min
In a dystopian future, American draft dodger Billy Hampton, 19 (played by a very young Bill Paxton), is brainwashed and programmed by militant feminists to assassinate the Welsh minister of prostitution. Lurching unwittingly toward his goal, he makes a series of furtive connections with societal outliers like himself, including a feral child, a gentle prostitute, a sadomasochistic delinquent, a lovelorn androgyne, a hippie dope dealer, and a mute nymphomaniac, while fending off predators who would sell him into sex slavery. Eventually, he is forced to focus on his mission and face the dreadful dilemma tormenting his psyche: to kill or not to kill.

THE TRAP DOOR AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE World Premiere

Director: Noah Warner
Country: USA, Running Time: 90 min
A hard nosed Private Detective (Shawn Brown) takes a case recovering a priceless stolen heirloom for a mysterious Femme Fatale (Laura Wiggins "Shameless"). While determined to catch the crafty Gagliano syndicate, who he becomes convinced is behind the theft, he discovers a secret about himself he didn't see coming...

U.S. Documentary Feature Competition

THE DEVIL'S ROAD: A BAJA ADVENTURE

Director: JT Bruce
Country: United States, Running Time: 98 min
A group of adventurers set out across Baja California on a 5,000-mile journey to recreate the century-old expedition of two prolific and obscure naturalists. Their search takes them on a thrilling quest -by motorcycle, airplane, boat, and horseback- to recreate the historic, unprecedented expedition across Baja. Along the way, they bear witness to the vibrant culture and unforgettable people, endure the challenges of the road, and get a glimpse into this extraordinary place and its uncertain future.

KING OF BEASTS

Directors: Tomer Almagor, Nadav Harel
Country: United States, Running Time: 85 min
Aaron, an American hunter, enters the dark heart of the African bush, on a surreal neocolonial expedition, emulating 1000s of years of indigenous rite of passage rituals, as he hunts the ultimate trophy - the king of beasts. King of Beasts is an observational portrait that digs beyond sensationalism and politics, observing the facts and the many shades of the truth on the ground in Africa, in regards to wildlife and lion conservation efforts, amidst the ever-declining animal populations. With intimate access and never before seen footage, the film question man’s very nature, as well as our place in the animal kingdom.

THE OFFLINE PLAYLIST

Director: Brian C. Miller Richard
Country: United States, Running Time: 48 min
A first-of-its-kind concert that paired New Orleans artists on a Spotify playlist with the fans who were listening to it, live at the hallowed Preservation Hall. Staring Jon Batiste, Irma Thomas, Curren$y, Mannie Fresh, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and more New Orleans legends.

THE ONE AND ONLY JEWISH MISS AMERICA

Director: David Arond
Country: United States, Running Time: 51 min
How Bess Myerson, the talented beauty queen from the Bronx, won the world’s most famous beauty pageant 75 years ago, at the tail end of World War II. The film follows Bess, the middle daughter of poor Russian immigrants, from her childhood in a one-bedroom Jewish housing project apartment through the suspense-filled pageant. On her 1945 Miss America tour, Bess faced anti-Semitism and closed doors at race-restricted venues which did not allow Jews. It is also a story of courage as her disappointment turned to determination, leading Bess Myerson to start her own tour to teach tolerance at high schools and colleges around the country -- a tour which launched her lifelong passion for justice.

WOKE THE MONSTER

Director: Andrew Shebay
Country: United States, Running Time: 57 min
18 months ago, Army veteran Shawn Livingston was strung out on heroin, battling PTSD and addiction, and facing a 20-year prison sentence. Now, he is preparing for the race of his life: a 100-mile trail race through the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains. The prize: his family, his recovery, his redemption, his life.

International Narrative Feature Spotlight

GETMELOVEDUP.COM

Director: George Carson
Country: United Kingdom, Running Time: 101 min
Comedy drama set in Scotland. Two young adults embark on a rollercoaster ride involving internet dating. The two lead characters Sharon & Kevin are under pressure from friends and family to find a partner, so they are encouraged to sign up to GetMeLovedUp.com internet dating site. This leads to several different hilarious “dates” which they both find challenging. Egged on by their friends they continue their quest until their separate paths through this adventure finally come together. This leads them to a set of highly unexpected circumstances.

International Documentary Feature Spotlight

FATHER UNKNOWN

Director: David Quint
Country: Switzerland/United States, Running Time: 70 min
Captured on a camera phone as it happened, FATHER UNKNOWN is the true story of a man’s struggle to face the emptiness he carries inside. Disconnected from the people closest to him and haunted by the secrecy in his family, he records his desperate search for connection on a journey with the father he's never truly known.

SHORT FILMS

U.S. Narrative Short Competition

A DRIVERS TALE

Director: Demarcus Brown
Country: United States, Running Time: 12:34 min

A PLACE LESS COLD

Director: Anne Johnstonbrown
Country: United States, Running Time: 14:53 min

ALL THAT YOU LOVE WILL BE CARRIED AWAY

Director: Thad Lee
Country: United States, Running Time: 29:29 min

BURY MY HEART

Director: Kav Lis
Country: United States, Running Time: 7:09 min

CHERRY

Director: Stacey Davis
Country: United States, Running Time: 12 min

CRUSH

Director: Jennifer Floyd
Country: United States, Running Time: 6 min

DIGNITY

Director: Pat Battistini
Country: United States, Running Time: 25 min

FORTUNE IN GOLD

Director: Anne Johnstonbrown
Country: United States, Running Time: 9:57 min

MY NEW PANTS

Director: Gerard Zarra
Country: United States, Running Time: 22:30 min

ODD BIRD

Director: Katy Dore
Country: United States, Running Time: 8:45 min

ONE LAST DROP

Director: Anthony Alyassi
Country: United States, Running Time: 11:40 min

QUARANTINE NYC

Director: Alexander Samuilov
Country: United States, Running Time: 4:08 min

STUCCO

Directors: Janina Gavankar, Russo Schelling
Country: United States, Running Time: 17:29 min

TALK OUTSIDE

Director: Austin Davison
Country: United States, Running Time: 7 min

TMARAMRLT

Director: Egor Barkanov
Country: United States, Running Time: 7 min

UNICORNS

Director: Candice Carella
Country: United States, Running Time: 13 min

WAFFLE

Director: Carlyn Hudson
Country: United States, Running Time: 10:57 min

ZOE & BRYN

Director: Maura Smith
Country: United States, Running Time: 25 min

U.S. Documentary Short Competition

AFFURMATIVE ACTION

Director: Travis Wood
Running Time: 3:56 min

DIEORAMA

Director: Kevin Staake
Country: United States, Running Time: 10:17 min

IN THE SAME DIRECTION: JEFF PIFHER & SOCRATES' TRIAL

Director: Alexander Craven
Country: United States, Running Time: 17 min

THE KALEIDOSCOPE GUY AT THE MARKET

Director: Russell Brown
Country: United States, Running Time: 21 min

ONE LAST JOB

Director: Tony Armer Country: United States, Running Time: 15 min

PIE IN THE PUSS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF PIEING IN FILM

Director: Stacey Davis Country: United States, Running Time: 9:27 min

WHAT IF...

Director: Noah Berlow
Country: United States, Running Time: 7:37 min

International Narrative Short Competition

ANNA

Director: Dekel Berenson
Country: Ukraine, Running Time: 15 min

THE DOE

Director: Jennifer Lumbroso
Country: France, Running Time: 18 min

DO NO HARM

Director: Gabriel Horn
Country: Israel, Running Time: 5:40 min

ELEPHANTBIRD

Director: Masoud Soheili
Country: Afghanistan, Running Time: 15 min

HORSE

Director: Mohamad Razazian
Country: Iran, Running Time: 13:28 min

MORDECHAI

Director: Andreas Flack
Country: Israel, Running Time: 6:46 min

THE MORNING WALK

Director: Marc Harpsøe
Country: Denmark, Running Time: 22:18 min

International Documentary Short Spotlight

CALL CENTER BLUES

Director: Geeta Gandbhir
Country: Mexico, Running Time: 25 min

Music Video Competition

DREAM

Director: Maxi Witrak, Jose Muro
Country: United States, Running Time: 3:21 min

LET THERE BE DRUMS

Director: George Wada
Country: United States, Running Time: 1:30 min

THE SUN WILL FOOL YOU

Directors: Daniel Bigelow, Talon Nightshade
Country: United States, Running Time: 4:42 min

Animation Competition

BRAUGHMADEUS

Director: Joe Brooks
Country: United States, Running Time: 20:54 min

PANCAKES

Director: Chad Briggs
Country: United States, Running Time: 3:12 min

Student Competition

THE HUNT

Director: Daarya Serji
Country: United States, Running Time: 10 min

THE MARGINS

Director: Leia Christ
Country: United States, Running Time: 9 min

SCREENPLAY CONTEST

FINDING FREEDOM

Writer: Bristol Mac Donald
Emma Wilson is a timid young woman who escapes a violently abusive relationship and returns to her family’s remote horse ranch where she hopes to find refuge, but tensions run high when she is reunited with her brother, a volatile bully and the reason she left home years ago. Prepared to flee once again, an unexpected kinship with a traumatized mustang helps Emma to confront her past and overcome her deepest fears.

FOREVER YOUNG

Writer: Jason Lor
A young man from ancient times is granted immortality until he finds his true love, no matter how long it takes.

FOUND

Writer: Chad Briggs
A troubled American soldier searches for a missing bomber crew while navigating the hostile cultural tensions of post-World War Two Japan.

LAST THURSDAY

Writer: Kevin Machate When Dennis got up this morning, he wasn't expecting that his bank would be robbed by a bunch of witless goons, or that they would take him hostage, but hey, it's Thursday so it's almost the weekend, right?

MY MISSING YEAR

Writer: Stephen Foster
A coming of age dramedy set in the backwater town of Bedford, Texas in 1979. Stephen a socially awkward, asthmatic, 11-year-old boy, lives with his mother, Patricia, and sister. Patricia’s attempts to make a better life for her kids uproots them and Stephen is separated from both and begins his odyssey of missing a year from his life.

SAINT TITUS

Writer: Dan Bowman
John Titus, a young conman, upon being forced to flee the states by a local mafia family, begins work for a children's charitable organization in India. Through his skills in extortion, he's able to make it the largest charity in Eastern Asia. But with prestige comes unwanted attention from governments, rivals, and the mob.

THE CANARY PROTOCOL

Writer: Michael McDonald
A young lady's curse of being able to see when someone is about to die is ruthlessly manipulated by a rouge CIA agent. A strange turn of events leaves the young lady in a desperate battle to save her own life.

THREE LADIES

Writer: Almudena Rojo Yela
A musical drama